AM Best Affirms Credit Ratings of AVLA Seguros de Crédito y Garantía S.A.

MEXICO CITY--(BUSINESS WIRE)--AM Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating (FSR) of B++ (Good) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating (Long-Term ICR) of “bbb+” (Good) of AVLA Seguros de Crédito y Garantía S.A. (AVLA) (Chile). The outlook of these Credit Ratings (ratings) is stable.

These ratings reflect AVLA’s balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as strong, as well as its adequate operating performance, neutral business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management.

AVLA began operations in Chile in 2013 as AVALCHILE, before changing its name to AVLA in 2016. The company is majority owned by Inversiones AVLA Seguros S.A., which holds a 90.27% stake, with the remaining 9.73% held by the group’s ultimate parent, AVLA S.A. AVLA specializes in financial guarantees, credit insurance and surety; it ranks first in Chile in surety and financial guarantees and third in credit insurance, based on market share.

AM Best considers AVLA’s business profile to be neutral. The company has been able to successfully redefine its risk appetite through adverse market conditions and has reacted promptly to take advantage of the economic rebound during 2021 and 2022. In AM Best’s view, management’s capabilities remain key to adjusting its product offering amid the evolving market conditions.

AM Best views the company’s operating performance as adequate; results as of December 2022 are characterized by a recovery in underwriting quality with premiums and revenues growing. The economic growth prospects are favorable for the underlying industries in which AVLA operates, creating the potential for growth. For 2023, AM Best will continue to monitor AVLA’s results and underwriting quality as Chile’s economy recovers.

AVLA’s balance sheet strength assessment is strong given its solid capital base for the risks it undertakes, as reflected in its strongest level of risk-adjusted capitalization, as measured by Best’s Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR). However, financial leverage at its holding company level limits AM Best’s view of the company’s balance sheet strength to the strong level, given the parent’s reliance on the company in terms of revenue and profits. This strong balance sheet strength assessment level also recognizes the willingness and proven history of capital contributions made by its shareholders to support AVLA’s growth, with the latest one taking place in 2021, which was equivalent to approximately one third of its reported equity at year-end 2020.

Negative rating actions could take place if AVLA’s market environment limits its operating performance or creates significant volatility in its underwriting metrics, especially if it affects the company’s capital position through continued negative bottom line results.

This press release relates to Credit Ratings that have been published on AM Best’s website. For all rating information relating to the release and pertinent disclosures, including details of the office responsible for issuing each of the individual ratings referenced in this release, please see AM Best’s Recent Rating Activity web page. For additional information regarding the use and limitations of Credit Rating opinions, please view Guide to Best’s Credit Ratings. For information on the proper use of Best’s Credit Ratings, Best’s Performance Assessments, Best’s Preliminary Credit Assessments and AM Best press releases, please view Guide to Proper Use of Best’s Ratings & Assessments.

AM Best is a global credit rating agency, news publisher and data analytics provider specializing in the insurance industry. Headquartered in the United States, the company does business in over 100 countries with regional offices in London, Amsterdam, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Mexico City. For more information, visit www.ambest.com.

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